IN its drive to be self-sustaining and independent in the area of funding, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has thrown open 18 sponsorship categories to local and international sponsors for leveraging.

The categories were arrived at after a high-level meeting between the NFF board led by Sanni Lulu Abdulahi, head of Marketing Idris Adama and Marketing Consultant, Chief Mike Itemuagbor.

“The idea is to make soccer more appealing to Nigerians with corporate backing of all our activities so that we don’t have to run to government each time we need money,” Lulu was quoted as saying.

The categories listed includes official newspapers of the NFF, Airlines, telecommunications, Construction and heavy equipment, Airlines, Electronics, Automobiles (cars and buses), Oil and Gas, Pharmaceuticals, Hotels and Hospitality, Tyres, Gaming, Heathcare, Payment Services ie money transfer, Logistics-postal and courier delivery, Website Partners, Fast foot and restaurants, cement as well as tourism.

The enlargement of the categories it was gathered is to afford corporate Nigeria and indeed the business world from all strata opportunities to use the growing brand of Nigerian football to leverage their products and services. While assuring that the categories will go to the early best bidders, sources at the meeting also revealed that those who come first will be given preference in the choice of the new category winners.

This is the first time the NFF is making such a bogus offer to the corporate world in its quest for self-sustenance.